Come On Baby, Just Rock, Rock, Rock! The Inspired Life and Enduring Legacy of Ritchie Valens

Corey Long's excellent biography of the late, great Ritchie Valens is a welcome addition to the canon of work on this often-forgotten pioneer of the "the Golden Age of American Rock n' Roll". In a brief career spanning only 8 months, Valens went from local talent to national star with three of the greatest songs of the era, indeed of all time. Tragically, Ritchie perished along with Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson after a gig in Clear Lake IA in February 1959 on the ill-fated Winter Dance Party tour.Come On Baby, Just Rock, Rock, Rock! brings Valens’ life, music, and legacy up to date with some of the latest research and findings coming decades after the release of the film La Bamba in 1987. Prior to this, Beverly Mendheim’s excellent work Ritchie Valens: The First Latino Rocker was the only full-length biography available on Ritchie Valens. Mendheim’s book, however, only touches a bit on the movie itself as the film was in production at the time and would not be released until later in 1987.Since then, several other books and films on Valens’ life and career have come out; including guitar books on Valens by myself (Ritchie Valens: His Guitars and Music in 2020, and Ritchie Valens Songbook: Hits and B-Sides in 2022). The aforementioned film featuring Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens (with accompanying soundtrack featuring Valens’ songs performed by Los Lobos) was a bona fide hit and cultural touchstone. The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake IA continues to celebrate the Winter Dance Party every February; and the Valens family is an integral part of the event. People come from all over the world for the event. Interest in Valens’ music remains high as ever.And so, the time is right now for a new biography on Ritchie Valens – one with the right blend of critical analysis and emotional weight. Ritchie was only 17 years old and left behind only a handful of recorded works and few interviews or film appearances. Long’s biography perfectly captures the sound, the voice, the cultural and familial background, and the history of Ritchie Valens and his meteoric rise to fame. This book will move you and grab your attention from the very first page – as you step back in time to Southern California in the 1950s. If you are a serious or casual fan, you need to get this book! To quote Ritchie in my favorite song of his: “Come On, Let’s Go”!

Growing up, my dad told me stories about music legends. As he pulled out worn vinyl covers, I memorized the faces. As much as the electric and avant-garde ones stood out, certain faces burned into my memory. Leonard Cohen's stoic gaze. BB King's intense expressions. Buddy Holly's iconic thick-rimmed glasses. And then there was Ritchie Valens. A face of experience framed with kindness and slick black hair. Back then, I didn't comprehend how young he was. His sound was so mature; a seasoned musician. My dad often spoke about Holly and Valens but reading this book gave me a greater perspective of Ritchie's rise to fame accompanied by the hardships and harsh realities he faced at such a young age in an exceptionally honest way. I am happy this book has further revitalized the legacy of Ritchie and the Valens family to old fans and new fans alike.

What an absolute gem of a book for those trying to find more information on Ritchie Valens whose career only lasted eight months before he died 😭

Only the second Ritchie Valens biography and first in 37 years. Beverly Mendheim released the first biography in 1987. I felt it focused more on Ritchie's music and everything else took a backseat. It's still a good read. However, a lot has happened since Mendheim's book came out.- Several months after the book was published, the film "La Bamba", brining Ritchie and his music back into the public eye.- On October 18, 1987, Ritchie's mom, Concepcion, passed away.- In 1990, Ritchie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- In 1993, Ritchie was featured on a U.S. postage stamp.- In 2001, Ritchie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.- In 2004, Ritchie's recording of "La Bamba" was named one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time by Rolling Stone magazine. It was the only song out of the 500 to be recorded in a language other than English.- On November 28, 2009, Ritchie's manager and producer, Bob Keane, passed away.- In 2015, Billboard magazine named Ritchie one if the 30 most influential Latino artists in history.- In 2018, a section of the Interstate 5 Freeway in the Northeast San Fernando Valley was renamed The Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway.- On September 15, 2018, Ritchie's half-brother, Bob Morales, passed away.- In 2019, Ritchie's recording of "La Bamba" was selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.- In 2022, the U.S. post office in Pacoima, CA was renamed the Ritchie Valens Post Office.This book by Corey Long is a must-have for Valens fans, both old and new. It covers everything. It also features a forward written by Ritchie's sister, Connie.

Loved the book, since I went to school with Ritchie Valens